Thailand prepares for 12-day suspended gas supply from JDA

BANGKOK, August 17 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Energy, is preparing measures to deal with a temporary suspension of natural gas supply from the Thailand-Malaysian Joint Development Area (JDA) during August 20-31, 2016 for regular maintenance services. Energy Ministry Spokesman Twarath Sutabutr, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), told journalists of the update on Wednesday, acknowledging that the 12-day disruption of natural gas supply from the JDA-A18 source should cut the amount of natural gas supply in Thailand by about 421 cubic feet per day. Twarath said his ministry could affirm, however, that the situation would not affect power production in the southern Thai region, as a main power plant in Chana District of Songkhla Province would turn to use diesel, instead, during the period. Besides, his ministry has sought cooperation from agencies under its jurisdiction, including the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), to jointly work out measures to cope with the situation ahead of the maintenance period. According to the EPPO chief, the prepared measures cover three aspects, including the assurance of no impact for normal electricity supply to the public in the region and more supply of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) from other regions, as well as PR campaigns launched through all public, private and civil society channels on energy saving in the region during the upcoming 12-day period. (TNA)